"Right, there's a military camp nearby. If we sell it there, we might sell it all at once. This preserved watermelon can be used for stir-fries or mixed with rice, and it's quite tasty."
The village chief hesitated and said, "What if we send it to the military camp? The camp is over thirty li from here. With the ox cart, we could probably make a round trip in a day. However, the price for goods sold to the military camp will definitely be low, and we won't earn much!"
As soon as the words "military camp" were mentioned, Zhao Jiaqi silently gave the village chief a thumbs-up, but repeatedly declined, "No, no, no. I'm just a woman, how could I dare go to such a place?"
"Besides, if those soldiers get stomachaches from eating it, what then? This plan won't work!"
A Shi and Ba Ge exchanged glances. This idea was exactly what they wanted.
"Sister-in-law, I think the village chief is right. Moreover, we've eaten your preserved food, and we haven't had any stomachaches. We can absolutely sell it to the military camp! Earning less is better than not selling it at all!"
A Shi earnestly persuaded Zhao Jiaqi.
Ba Ge said, "I think the village chief's idea is excellent. If you don't have enough hands, my brother and I can help!"
"No, I dare not go to that place. They are all rough men. Seeing my beauty, I'm afraid!"
A Shi almost spat out the water he was drinking. She still dared to call herself beautiful? At most, she could be considered not ugly.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, it won't happen. I promise you!"
Zhao Jiaqi raised an eyebrow at him, confirming again, "Are we really going?"
A Shi nodded solemnly, "Of course!"
"Then... I'll listen to you. Shall we set off tomorrow morning? We should be back by evening!"
Everyone agreed. In the afternoon, they started looking for an ox cart and loaded it until the middle of the night. They set off before dawn the next day.
Thirty-odd li, the ox cart swayed, and they arrived by late morning.
They said pleasant things to the guards at the gate, but the guards simply refused to let them in to find the procurement officers.
The guard at the gate directly shooed them away, "Go, go, go! This is a military stronghold, not a place for idle people like you!"
They had come to do business at a military camp. In all these years of being soldiers, this was the first time.
A Shi was unwilling. They had already reached the military camp; if they didn't go in for a look, wouldn't his efforts for the past two days be in vain?
To investigate, he used his glib tongue to pester the guards, offering money and sweet words.
While no one was paying attention, Xiao Junjun ran off. She found a spot with loose soil around the camp's perimeter wall, dug a dog hole for herself, crawled in, and then covered it with grass to create a false impression.
She hadn't run far before she was spotted by patrolling soldiers and was immediately captured as a spy and taken to the main tent.
"I beg you, General, please deliver this to General Fan Zehao. It's a matter of life and death. After the General reads it, he will surely reward you. If you don't go, then the Yun Kingdom will fall, and you will be a heinous criminal."
Fan Xudong heard that it was for his elder brother. He opened and looked at the paper. Others couldn't decipher the writing, but he could.
He raised the paper in his hand in shock and asked her nervously, "Who gave this to you? Speak!"
Xiao Junjun was stubborn and just looked at him, not uttering a single word.
"Fan Zehao is my elder brother. My name is Xudong. I'll write you a letter and you can take it back to the person who sent you. Is that acceptable?"
Finally, Junjun spoke, "Okay!"
Fan Xudong, who had already been promoted to general, immediately wrote a short reply, using the same simplified characters that only the three of them could recognize.
Xiao Junjun tucked the letter away and was taken back to where she was captured. She then crawled out through the dog hole.
Outside the tent, everyone was anxiously calling her name. It was then that she ran out, "Mother, I'm here!"
Zhao Jiaqi anxiously stepped forward, dusting off her clothes, and reprimanded, "What were you doing? I told you not to follow, but you insisted. If you had gotten lost, how would I explain to your father!"
She awkwardly tugged at her skirt, "Mother, I just went to relieve myself. With these uncles here, it's not convenient for a girl to be too close, so I ran a bit far!"
Her explanation was clear. A Shi looked at the water stains on her shoes and the thick mud on the soles, which looked like she had indeed gone to relieve herself.
They didn't arouse suspicion. After lingering with the guards, they realized it wouldn't work and decided to head home.
It was truly tiring to have made a trip for nothing.
Upon returning to the town, she looked apologetically at everyone. She couldn't let them go hungry. "It's already dark, and the business didn't go through. But that doesn't mean everyone has to starve. How about I treat everyone to steamed buns and congee?"
The village chief was very honest. He felt that since the business failed and they hadn't earned any money, they were even losing money by treating everyone to a meal. He immediately refused, "No, no. We'll make do with something at home. Your money is running low, so keep it."
Zhao Jiaqi found an excuse, "It's just one meal. In a few days, my sweet potatoes will be harvested. Food is easy to sell, so there's no need to worry!"
Unable to resist her persuasion, and being hungry, everyone agreed to go in and eat.
While eating, Xiao Junjun pestered A Shi and Ba Ge to go shopping in town. She had never been before and had never eaten candy. She acted as pitifully as she could. Finally, the two couldn't stand her pitiful look and took her along.
Having completed her mission, Xiao Junjun finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was completely unapologetic towards these two. She played and bought things all the way.
Looking at the food and toys in her hands, for a brief moment, she fantasized.
If these two were not from the Zong Sheng Kingdom, and if they were not people who wanted to conquer her country, she would have treated them as her dearest family members.
Unfortunately... not only were they from the Zong Sheng Kingdom, but they were also people who intended to overthrow her country.
Wanting to harm her godfather, such people did not deserve sympathy.
Mother and daughter cooperated seamlessly. She dealt with the two spies, while her mother reunited with her father, devising plans to counter the Zong Sheng Kingdom's sneak attack.
At the steamed bun shop, Fan Zehao finally saw his wife, and the unease in his heart finally subsided.
"I was so scared after reading your letter. How is it? Do they suspect you?"
Zhao Jiaqi soothed the agitated man, "It's okay, it's okay. They didn't find out. Xiao Junjun never told them she could understand the Zong Sheng language. That child is very clever!"
Fan Zehao pulled her to sit on a stool, his face grim. He held her hand and said, "That's not good enough. I brought some people with me this time. They are in the shop opposite. I'm taking you and Junjun away today. You can't stay with them anymore. It's no different from dancing with wolves!"
It was too dangerous!
"I can't leave yet!"
"No, you must listen to me on this matter!"
This was the first time Fan Zehao had been firm with his wife. It wasn't that he didn't listen to her, but this matter was too dangerous. He couldn't bear to think what they would do if they knew his wife's identity.
His weakness was Zhao Jiaqi. He feared nothing and dared not die, but she was his only vulnerability.
Even a slight injury to her would cause him heartache!